Muhammad al-Tawil of Huesca facts for kids

Muhammad ibn Abd al-Malik al-Tawil (died 913 or 914) was an important Muslim leader in a part of Spain called Al-Andalus. He lived around the late 800s and early 900s. He was a "Muwallad," meaning his family were locals who had converted to Islam.

Muhammad al-Tawil was the governor, or Wāli, of Huesca. He was a powerful lord in the northern area of Al-Andalus, known as the Upper March. Even though he was supposed to follow the Emirs of Córdoba, he often made his own decisions. He fought against both Christian and Muslim groups nearby. These included the leaders of Barcelona, Pallars, Aragon, and the King of Pamplona. He also fought against another powerful Muslim family, the Banu Qasi.

Muhammad al-Tawil started his own family line, called the Banu al-Tawil. This family ruled Huesca, Barbastro, and Lleida for about 100 years. Eventually, another family, the Banu Tujib from Zaragoza, took over their lands.

Early Life & Rise to Power

Muhammad al-Tawil's father was Abd al-Malik ibn Abd Allah ibn Shabrit. His family, the Banu Shabrit, were local lords in the Huesca area. They were related to Shabrit, who was an ally of a rebel leader named Amrus ibn Yusuf in the late 700s.

On March 12, 887, Muhammad al-Tawil took control of Huesca. He did this by killing Mas'ud ibn Amrus, who was the governor of Huesca at the time. Mas'ud was a great-grandson of Amrus.

Battles with the Banu Qasi Family

In 889 or 890, Isma'il ibn Musa from Lleida started a rebellion. He was a member of the Banu Qasi family, who were rivals of Muhammad al-Tawil. Muhammad al-Tawil ambushed Isma'il's sons, Musa and Mutarrif. In this fight, Musa and 300 of his soldiers died, and Mutarrif was captured.

This defeat ended the rebellion. Muhammad al-Tawil asked the Emir (the ruler of Córdoba) for Isma'il's lands. But the Emir, Abd Allah, gave the land back to the Banu Qasi family instead. He gave it to Muhammad ibn Lubb al-Qasawi, who was Isma'il's nephew.

In 893, Muhammad al-Tawil was mentioned in an important document. He appeared with his rival, Muhammad ibn Lubb, in a charter from King Fortún Garcés of Pamplona.

Three years later, Muhammad al-Tawil fought the Banu Qasi again. Lubb ibn Muhammad, the son of the Banu Qasi leader, planned to strengthen the castle of Monzón. Muhammad al-Tawil gathered his soldiers to stop him. Lubb's army was smaller and not as well-equipped, but they still defeated al-Tawil's men. They even captured al-Tawil's brother, Furtun.

In 898, Muhammad ibn Lubb al-Qasawi died while attacking Zaragoza. This gave Muhammad al-Tawil a chance to get back some land. But Lubb ibn Muhammad returned and defeated al-Tawil again, this time capturing him. Al-Tawil had to give up Barbastro and lands between Huesca and Monzón. He also had to pay a large sum of money, 100,000 gold dinars. As a guarantee, he gave his son Abd al-Malik and his daughter Sayyida as hostages. Lubb later married Sayyida and forgave half of the unpaid money.

Muhammad al-Tawil was not mentioned much for a few years. He might have been fighting Christian groups to the north. He appeared again in 906 or 907. He took the castles of Barbastro and Alquézar from Lubb ibn Muhammad.

Fights Against Christian Kingdoms

In October 908, Muhammad al-Tawil attacked the County of Pallars. The leader of Roda offered to pay tribute for peace. But al-Tawil refused and destroyed the castle. He then attacked Monte Pedroso and Oliola. He took 300 prisoners and later got 13,000 gold pieces for their release.

In 911, al-Tawil marched north. He passed through the land of his brother-in-law, Count Galindo Aznárez II of Aragon. He then joined Abd Allah, who was Lubb ibn Muhammad al-Qasawi's brother. Together, they attacked Pamplona. They had some early success, but Sancho I of Pamplona eventually defeated them. Sancho I then became the feudal lord over Aragon.

The next year, Muhammad al-Tawil attacked Sunyer, Count of Barcelona. He forced Sunyer to run away from the battle. However, a second campaign against Barcelona led to Muhammad al-Tawil's death on October 23, 913.

Family and Legacy

Muhammad al-Tawil married Sancha Aznarez. She was the daughter of Aznar Galíndez II of Aragon. She was also the granddaughter of García Íñiguez of Pamplona. They had five children: sons Abd al-Malik, Amrus, Furtun, and Musa Aznar, and one daughter, Sayyida. Sayyida later married Lubb ibn Muhammad al-Qasawi. Muhammad al-Tawil also had other sons named Yahya, Lubb, and possibly Walid, likely with a different woman.

• Abd al-Malik ibn Muhammad took over Huesca and Barbastro after his father died. He gave Monzón to his brother Amrus. Abd al-Malik faced challenges from his own relatives. Two Banu Shabrit kinsmen tried to take Huesca, but the people did not support them. Both were killed soon after entering the city. Abd al-Malik then had two other brothers of one of the kinsmen killed. His own brother Amrus then challenged him. Abd al-Malik ibn Muhammad was captured and killed on December 25, 918.

• Amrus ibn Muhammad was given Monzón by his brother in 914. But the people there did not want him and invited Muhammad ibn Lubb al-Qasawi instead. Amrus took Huesca from his brother in 918. However, he was again rejected and forced out within weeks. Amrus went to Barbastro and Alquézar. He asked Abd-ar-Rahman III to make him governor there. He then got help from Sancho I of Pamplona and Bernard I Unifred of Ribagorza to take Monzón. He fought against his brother Furtun, the Banu Qasi, and the Banu Tujib. He captured and ransomed several important people. But he was also captured and ransomed many times himself. He submitted to the Caliph in 933 or 934 and died on June 6, 935.

• Furtun ibn Muhammad was chosen to rule Huesca when his brother Amrus was forced out. In 931 or 932, he made an agreement with Muhammad ibn Hasim, a rebel leader of the Banu Tujib. Because of this, Abd ar-Rahman punished Huesca by putting many men in prison. Huesca responded by expelling Furtun in 933. He first fled to a safe place in the mountains. Then he went to Córdoba and humbly asked the Caliph for forgiveness. He was given Huesca back in 936 or 937. However, at the Battle of Simancas, he did not send his troops to fight. He was hunted down near Calatayud, taken to Córdoba, and killed.

• Yahya ibn Muhammad received Huesca when Furtun fled in 933. He also governed Mérida from 935. But he was suspected of wrongdoing and put in prison. After Furtun's fall, he was favored again and given Barbastro. He died there on December 20, 951. His brother Lubb ibn Muhammad took over Barbastro. Lubb died suddenly in Córdoba in December 955. Other records mention a short rule by Walid ibn Muhammad.

• Musa Aznar ibn Muhammad was given Lleida. In 940, he also received Huesca. He married Dadildis, daughter of Jimeno Garcés of Pamplona. He died on December 18, 954. His son Abd al-Malik ibn Musa followed him in Huesca. Later, he had to share Huesca with his cousin, Yahya ibn Lubb, who had followed his father Lubb in Barbastro. The last known member of this family was Walid ibn Abd al-Malik. He took part in a tournament in Córdoba in 974. After this, the Banu Tujib family took control of Huesca.

The Banu al-Tawil family, along with their rivals the Banu Qasi, often acted independently from Córdoba. Their actions helped set the stage for later families, like the Banu Tujib and Banu Hud, to create their own independent states in what was once the Upper March.

Family tree

See also

In Spanish: Muhammad al-Tawil de Huesca para niños